FasterNearGirls

I'm 5' 9" and have been comfortably riding a 54cm Neuvation FC100 Frame, which is even on the small side for me.


I just bought a 55cm BMC Race Machine 2011 - couldn't pass on the deal given the bad time to be on the market for a new bike.
She's beautiful. But she's huge. Just came in the mail yesterday.
The standover height is very tall, the top tube rubs against me. Meanwhile, the reach is shorter than on my other bike with the 1 cm shorter stem.

I have not yet had a chance to ride the new bike. But this is bothering me and I wanted your opinion.

Thanks.

10 Wheels

Pics would help much.

ColinL

the BMC 55cm has the geometry typical of a cannondale or specialized 56cm.

that said, 56cm eTT doesn't sound unworkable for 5'9". you just explained that the reach is shorter than your other bike, so it sounds like you can put a longer stem on the BMC and have the same reach.

so the problem seems to be standover. elaborate on that. are you grazing the TT, or is it fully against your crotch, supporting some weight?

FasterNearGirls

The TT is grazing my crotch, no weight being supported.
So that's really what I was looking to discuss - assuming I can get comfortable reach wise and etc, this tall frame will not matter much? What are the downside? Maybe the fact that my seat post / saddle height will be low relatively to the frame, and that I can't get in a very aggressive position?

Unfortunately can't take pics until next week. Going away with the Neuvation after work, for the weekend.

Thanks.

ddeadserious

People seem to base a lot of fit off of standover height/clearance, but top tube length is significantly more important. If the top tube and the reach are proper for you, you're should be good to go(assuming you don't have the slam the seat to have a good pedal stroke).

ColinL

grazing the TT is no big deal at all. I have a flat TT as well-- not sloping-- and am on the biggest frame I can fit. (could ride 58cm, have 61cm.) I don't clear the TT by much, probably 10-15 mm.

you might not look 'pro' with a low amount of seatpost showing, but if you get the saddle height correct, and the bar reach and height correct, of course you can ride that bike.

FasterNearGirls

Thank you very much for the insight. This makes me feel better. Can't wait to ride!
I'll ride some, and eventually get a pro fit and their opinion on the frame size for me before I make my final decision, i.e. whether to keep her.

Looigi

I'm 5'9" with a 34" bike inseam and ride a 55 BMC SLR01. Stem is 110mm and tops of the bars are 10cm below the top of the saddle. Needed a -17 degree stem to get there. Never consciously checked the stand over height but I guess it's OK. If you can get the right relative positions between the cranks, saddle, and bars, there's not reason not to ride it.

FasterNearGirls

Nice bike!
Great news then. Thank you. I like the 110mm -17 degree stem idea. I might be OK after all.
Not sure what my bike inseam is, possibly a little shorter than yours, but we've gone over how that will not matter.

Thanks again.

StanSeven

I looked at the geometry of that bike because a friend is looking at one. In a 55, the seta tube is 57 to top of seatpost. With the sloping and diminishing diameter, that's close a regular 57. The top tube is 56. Both of those are large for someone who's 5'9". If that reach seems short, what is the stem length.

Regardless of what others say, that seems it may be too big. Either psot some pictures ot have someone knowledgable take a look at you on it. Do you know a LBS that might give you objective advice?

I'm 6'0" exactly and that would fit me perfectly

FasterNearGirls

Wanna buy it in case it doesn't work out for me??

Stem is only a 90mm. Definitely will need to change.
I plan on doing both: pasting pics and going to an LBS.
I have 60 day money back guarantee too, so I should be OK. I want it to work though.

ColinL

It entirely depends on his arm and torso length, since we've already established that he can stand over the bike, if only just.

I'm also 6'0" exactly and I have broad shoulders and long arms, resulting in a 78.5" boxing reach. Most people have a boxing reach within 1-2" of their height. If I setup the OP's bike to match the bar position of mine, it would require a 140mm 6deg stem and no spacer.

But this thread isn't about me, and I agree that we need pics of him on the bike. Actually both bikes would be really helpful to understand his impressions of the Neuvation being too small and the BMC too large.

topflightpro

I cannot say conclusively without seeing you on the bike, but if the BMC feels to you like it is too big, then it is probably too big.

A 55 BMC is essentially one size up from your 54 Neuvation (53 BMC would be closer to your Neuvation.)

St_Pete_Speed

So... in looking at the thread title, I had had these really good answers to give you:

• if you love her, she is not too big...
• much more comfortable...
• maybe encourage her to ride more...

Then I actually read the post...

Campag4life

What Colin said. Downside? You will be more comfortable because your bars won't be so low. Don't sweat it. Bet you end up liking it more than your smaller bike with shorter head tube with more standover. If you want it more slammed you can get there with a -17 deg stem.
Enjoy it.

ultraman6970

Hi, BMC rider here for a few years. Sincerely??? probably the bike is too big, those frames run big and if you look at the geometry sizing the effective top tube in that BMC bike is 56 cm. Probably 1 to 2 cms longer than the old bike. The top tube in the old frame is 54.5, the geometry of the new bike has an almost horizontal top tube. 1.5 centimeters of difference, not much but could be bothersome at some point.

Personally I never look at the stand over for some obvious reasons, the BB height and the top tube height change from manufacturer to manufacturer so one guy can put the top tube as high or low as they want, add to that the different BB height then you can't compare the bikes at all. An example is just look at the specialized bikes with those massive front tubes... frames like 54 in size that look like a 60 with a stand over so high that you can pedal right seated in the top tube, just insane IMO.

The only 2 things you have to compare are the top tube effective length and the reach. And now if you are talking in high end bikes like the bmc stand over just dont work because those bikes have the top tube lower than normal... since you got a large frame than your old Neuvation obviously the top tube stand over will be higher.

The 53 BMC is the equivalent to the 54 Neuvation.. even the top tube in 53 is still 5 mm longer than the Neuvation. With Ridley damocles you should have gone all the way to a small size to get close to the size you are looking for. Always effective top tube and reach to compare. The stand over doesnt work unless the bikes have exactly the same geometry and that is not going to happen.

Hope this helps you.

KoNP

I'm 6'1 and ride a 60cm bmc

StanSeven

I see from your post you have an SL02 which is a lot different than the RM01 the OP got. Yours in a 60 has a 55.5 seat post. The same in a RM01 is a 62, although the tt is more straight which means the seat tube is longer!

FasterNearGirls

Thanks for the posts. Both the inspiring and wishful thinking ones, as well as the straight up negative ones.

That's how I feel about the new bike right now. Lot of mixed feelings regarding the fit given it's such a large frame for my size. For example, the seat post is slammed, all the way down to that red stripe.

I believe I will have fun "test riding" it for a little while but then will need to return to Competitive Cyclist. The sales person ensured me that the return process would be smooth. I hope so. He actually told me I could test ride it for 60 days and send it back no questions asked, just pay shipping.
I'll return it in a week. I need a new bike.

Thank you.

StanSeven

That's the 41, regardless of the subject.

Good luck. CC does have an excellent return policy and very knowledgable personnel. I'm sure you will end up with something that makes you very happy.

Or if you're like me, for a while until something better and newer comes along.